Keep On

One of the UK’s most successful solo male artists

On February 9, 2002, and after 4.6 million votes, British singer Will Young became the winner of Pop Idol, the successful U.K. live entertainment TV show. Soon, his debut single Anything Is Possible/Evergreen became the fastest-selling single in the U.K., a title previously held by Band Aid's 1984 hit Do They Know It's Christmas? It’s been nearly two years since the release of Will Young’s critically acclaimed and five times platinum selling album, Friday’s Child. Since then, Will’s solo career has seen him turn from a young apprentice into one of the UK’s most successful solo male artists. Over the past few years, Will has emerged as an accomplished songwriter and vocalist whilst captivating fans and playing sell-out shows on two tours and at festival dates throughout the UK. Keep On is the third album from Will Young and sees him once again being joined by long time collaborator/producer Steve Lipson. Working with various songwriters including Nitin Sawhney, the album continues in the vein of Young's previous releases, mixing adult pop with soul and jazz influences.

Will Young's impressive vocal range

There's Bo Diddley riffage in lead single Switch It On; ecstatic showtune partying with Ain't Such A Bad Place To Be; bossanova bounciness in the infectious, salsa-tinged cover Happiness; electro-pop layering in the title track. Amongst the best is classic ballad All Time Love, a sentimental, romantic song that should trouble the upper reaches of the chart come Valentine's Day 2006. Another surefire hit is the lyrically clever and solidly built Who Am I. There's also a successful psychedelic rock song for fans of that authentic '60s vibe entitled All I Want. The song with interesting lyrics, Save Yourself, seems be an ode to a drug addict and features a shimmering arrangement topped with woozy sax. It is delivered by a singer who seems emotionally connected to the piece. Its polar opposite is the James Brown-style funk of Think It Over, one of several tracks that seem designed entirely to have lots of fun with. In a more poignant moment, the end of a relationship is delicately observed in the Nitin Sawhney-penned Home. A classic Sawhney track, it could as easily have appeared on one of the scarily brilliant maestro's own records, but it works well here for a performer who gives the lyrics resonance. It's a fitting album closer and fully flouts Will's impressive vocal range.

Keep On sounds like the first completely Will Young album

Winners of Pop Idol really aren't supposed to make it as far as their third album. By now, however, even Will Young's bitterest enemies have to admit that the lad has staying power. What's more, he's getting better all the time. Will's third opus is yet another impressive musical leap in terms of songwriting and production. Keep On sounds like the first completely Will Young album. Will is aiming for the George Michael coffee table market with a classy collection that takes in many musical genres. If you've never had time for TV talent contest winners, here make an exception – it's the single proof that sometimes, these shows actually work to give us, the public, what we really need. Keep On is an impressive work of pop that succeeds in broadening Will's already considerable adult appeal. His love affair with the record-buying public has plenty of mileage left in it yet.